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The honest comparison
One is grown in a lab in 4 to 8 weeks. The other was made by the earth a billion years ago. Chemically, optically and physically, they are the same stone. The price isn’t. Here’s the side-by-side, and our take on why you shouldn’t have to choose between ethical and real.
Ten attributes that matter when you’re comparing. Sources for the optical and chemical data: GIA, IGI.
Chemical composition
Hardness (Mohs scale)
Refractive index
Identical fire and brilliance
Certified by
Same labs, same 4Cs methodology
Origin
Ethical sourcing
Environmental impact
Price for the same 4Cs
Eligible for BIS hallmark setting
Resale value
Both at our prevailing rate
Every Maanorah diamond is graded by IGI or SGL using the same 4Cs — cut, colour, clarity, carat — that GIA uses for mined stones. The certificate sits with your jewellery. You can verify it yourself.
We know which Indian lab grew the diamond on your ring. We can tell you the month it was grown. The Kimberley Process and conflict questions don’t apply — the diamond was made above ground.
Because you aren’t paying a rarity premium, the budget that buys you a 0.50ct mined diamond comfortably buys a 1.5ct lab-grown of higher clarity. The choice is whether you want the story or the stone.
Both lab-grown and mined diamonds lose retail value the moment they leave the store — that’s the jewellery industry, not a lab-grown problem. For exchange and buyback, Maanorah credits both at our prevailing rate. See our Exchange Promise for how that works.
Visually, no — not without specialised lab equipment. Lab-grown and mined diamonds have identical sparkle, identical clarity grades, and identical hardness. We do issue every diamond with an IGI or SGL certificate that clearly states the origin, because we believe in honesty over secrecy.
Yes. Every Maanorah piece is set in 14K, 18K or 22K solid gold (your choice), BIS-hallmarked by the Indian government. The lab-grown conversation is only about the diamond — the metal is conventional.
Because the supply chain is shorter and the rarity premium is gone. A mined diamond passes through mining, sorting, cutting and multiple resale tiers — each adding margin. A lab-grown skips the mine and often the middle tiers. The savings are pocket, not quality.
Every piece arrives with its IGI or SGL certificate. If you want to compare stones in person before you buy, message us — we can ship a couple of certificates for review.
